Summer block of the week

I am participating in Jenny of Elefantz free summer block of the week stitchery quilt. Even tho for Jenny, I guess it would be a winter BOW, since she lives in Australia.

Here is my first stitchery and block:

 

I finished this stitchery in one night while watching the Fifa World Cup.(we are BIG futbol fans around here, as all of my kids have played/or do play soccer).

 

Isn't it pretty! Here is the whole block:

 

 

I am currently working on block 2 which was released this week. Every Monday a new FREE block will be released. If you would like to stitch-along click on the button in my sidebar and go to Jenny's blog for all of the details.

 

Last Sunday we celebrated my little granddaughter Amy's first birthday! I cannot believe how fast this year has gone. It has been so fun watching her grow, and watching my daughter and her husband grow into being parents. They are just the sweetest little family unit, with the Lord at the center of their lives. They are doing a wonderful job, and Amy is thriving!

 

She is the joy of my life these days!

Amy Ren 1st Birthday







Are you working on any special projects this summer?

 

Blessings,

~Annie

My journey has begun

I decided to take one of Tamera Laporte's summer classes over at willowing.com because I have always admired her style and I wanted to do something a little more stylized and whimsical. I think I can tend to get too serious and bogged down in my art, and that is not what I want. I want my art to be fun.

 So I decided on the Summer Fae class because it is a profile and that is something I have yet to master.

I had so much fun!!!

I loved doing it so much that I then went over to her site and took the free course Art Heart and Healing. I skipped over most of the healing stuff, I don't have a lot of issues, (although I did find it interesting). But the techniques were also really fun and I had a grand time following along. Especially the face shading lesson and the lesson on whimsies.

So now I think I am going to take her Wonderful World of Whimsies class.

I love whimsies. But for a long time my inner voice has said, "If you do whimsies no one will take you seriously. You will be irrelevant."

Now its not that I have some agenda with my art where 

I want to change the world or make some kind of political statement.

So where are these doubts coming from?

For years I was a dollmaker and in some situations it actually made me

 uncomfortable to tell people what I did.

 They would look at you like you were a child.

Playing with dolls.

There was no way to explain how hard it is,

 how much work I put into it, 

or how much I had studied and developed my technique.

I thought that this time around I could avoid that.

But I'm beginning to realize that the majority of people out there have no idea what art entails. They will look at you that way no matter what you are making.

And WHY DO I CARE what random people think?

Thant is so silly!

If I care about developing my own style and finding my voice 

I have to follow where my muse is pulling me,

 don't I?

This is what I'm thinking today.

Faith and the fickle heart!

If this blog has any purpose, it is to remind me of where I am supposed to be focusing my energies. Ha!

Her Majesty's Glove designed by Nostalgic Needle

 

One of my goals for 2013 was to focus my energies on embroidery.

I fell into an apathetic hole from the end of 2011 until October of 2012 and barely picked up a needle, unless forced to for commissions and such.

Granted 2012 was the "Year of the Wedding" which was all-consuming and incredibly stressful. 

ABC123 by Annie Beez Folk Art new design

 

But who am I kidding. 

When it comes to the arts, my heart is FICKLE!

I have lamented this fact many times over the years on this very blog!

ANY type of art can turn my head and then I am running after it with the reckless abandon of a co-ed in the springtime!

Bluebells free design by Laura J. Perin

 In my defense(and I cling to this pathetically) I have just published 2 cross stitch designs, one of which is the last chart in a series which has only taken me 2 years to release!(my extreme apologies to those who have been stitching this series!)

And I am writing an article for Prims magazine that will accompany an oil painted doll they will be featuring. So not a complete slacker!

3 dimensional bird design in surface embroidery by Annie Beez Folk Art

But, even though my focus is embroidery, I now have no less than 7 embroidery projects in the works. These are projects out on my work desk or set up in various frames in my studio.

Beetle and Berry Stumpwork Embroidery by The Floss Box

 

 This does not include WIPs or UFOs, obviously!

Only 1 is cross stitch. 

At least the rest are embroidery,

(even though I can hear my watercolors calling me and I am pretending not to hear!)

So I am boldly calling this Focused Fickleness!

 And I am keeping the faith that, as Mrs. Haynes(my daughter) said, God made you this way for a reason. So the reason must be that all of this exploring adds to my development as an artist, right? 

That sounds good, I'm going with it!

I'm not a 1 book at a time reader either!

Do any of you have trouble seeing a project through to the end?

 Or are you one of those 1 project at a time stitchers? 

(I envy you!)

XX

~Annie

Sneak Peek and a give away!

Such Friendship by Annie Beez Folk Art

This new chart will also be winging its way to my distributor today, and up in my Etsy shop by the end of the week.

The model is stitched on 32ct. flax linen using a combination of sampler threads from Crescent Colours, Gentle Art and Weekes Dye Works. I used a piece of antique lace along the side when I finished it!Isn't it ooo-la-la pretty?? 

I just love antique laces and trims and will scour antique shops endlessly looking for them!

The little flower centers are stitched with a leviathan variation stitch and there is a wee Rhodes heart in the bottom right hand corner.

Leave me a comment on this post and I will enter your name for a free chart of this design on Friday!!

xx

~Annie

For Sale at the Merc!

For sale this month at TDIPT Mercantile:

All Hearts Come Home for Christmas.

My sample is for sale.

Sold! Thank you!

The free chart for this is about to expire Dec.10th, so if you are interested you need to print it out now. Here is the link.

Sajou Merry Christmas with vintage and antique button border.

This has a ribbon hanger(not shown).

Hope you are having fun decorating for the holidays! I just got my tree up last night. I like a real tree but my hubby doesn't. So we bought a pre-lit tree a couple of years ago and now the lights wont light. So we had to buy lights and restring it! Ah well! such is life!

ha! Ha!

I'm working on some dolls as well. One is for Prims magazine. I have to have her sent out on Friday, and my hubs in on vacation all this week, yikes! I will post a few teaser pics later this week!

Merry Christmas!

xx

~Annie

Christmas Ornament Freebie!

Here is a free chart for you! Thank you all for your comments and for reading my blog! I enjoy every single comment and cherish the friendships I have made through this blog!

 

 Download here!

Eyelets are stitched with 2 strands of 3774 Desert Sand vy lt OR #12 perle cotton in ecru.

This free chart will be available here to download for a limited time. 30 days to be exact! After that you will have to email me for the chart.

  If you stitch it PLEASE send me a picture, 

I would love to create a gallery of your beautiful work! 

Enjoy!

xx

~Annie

Soccer season is over, so I finally got a free weekend and it was 

LOVELY!!!

I had ample time to stitch:

I worked on Mary Beale's Sampler Stocking.

I finished page 1!

I also worked quite a bit on Quilty Neighborhood, but I can't show you that yet!

I FINISHED a needle roll!! This has been in my basket of smalls that I keep handy for when I just have a few minutes here and there.

Garden Needle Roll~Shepherds Bush

And I finished a pretty little Christmas ornament. This is an original design. I am waiting for some silk ribbon that I ordered to make the hanger, but here it is so far:

Hope you all had as lovely a weekend as I did.

 And for those in the Northeast who have been so devastated by hurricane Sandy-you are in my prayers every day!

xx

~Annie

Ester on TDIPT Mercantile!

Ester is ready and currently up for adoption on TDIPT Mercantile!

 She has such a folksy style, in her regency gown and smartly trimmed bonnet!

 Her sweet face would look sogreat peeking out amongst antiques and cherished treasures!

 Her gown and pantaloons have been carefully created with grow tucks and lace for that old fashioned look!

I have made a little bluebird for her to hold!

Ester will come signed and dated with free shipping!

Click here to see more details on the Merc!
Ester is on her way to her new home! Thank you!

Finding my way-Part 2

So every time I get myself into this place where I am exploring a new art form, I am racked with guilt because I am creating just for myself and not really making anything to sell. As I have said in my last post I am coming to terms with this aspect of the artistic life, and learning how it is also very valuable.

By allowing myself to explore I have found that the inspiration as to how this is going to fit into my professional life will come.

And it has!

What I have learned from all of this art journaling,

 or rather re-connected with,

 is that I LOVE ILLUSTRATION!

Those who have been buying my doll patterns from the beginning may have noticed that they have become more and more illustrative through the years. I have decided that along with publishing some new doll patterns, I would also like to share my 12+ years of dollmaking experience.

 So I have decided to publish a series of little art-zines all about dollmaking and dollmaking techniques.

These will be very illustrated and cover all sorts of techniques and topics that relate to dollmaking. 

I would love your help!

You may have noticed my poll at the top of the screen. I would love to know what types of techniques you would be interested in. Also, if you have any other suggestions of things you would like to learn PLEASE feel free to drop me a comment! I would love to hear any and all suggestions you may have on the subject.

Thank you all so much for visiting!

 I promise not to be such a stranger!!!

xx

~Annie

Happy St.Valentines Day free download!

 

Entanglement

Click on the word "entanglement" to download this design. The pattern is for punch needle, but you could embroider it, or what ever! Have fun!

Happy St.Valentines Day!

New folk doll for sale at the TDIPT Mercantile

Please visit "the Merc" to see my latest handmade folk doll "Jane". She is one of a kind and will come to you signed and dated. 

I am also offering FREE SHIPPING!

She also comes with a punch needle valentine cupboard hanger!

Thanks for looking!

Click here to go to the Merc!

Sweet Vintage Snowman on SALE!

This guy is currently on sale for LESS THAN HALF PRICE at my website!

He is one of a kind, so don't miss him!

FREE SHIPPING!

Click here for details!

BEST CUSTOMERS in the WORLD PATTERN SALE!!

click blog title to visit website!

From now until September 15th

I have a buy 2 get 1 (of equal or lesser value) FREE sale

on ANY pattern at my website!

To take advantage of this make your 2 selections 

and then email me your choice for the free pattern! 

I will send them out to you pronto!!

Please be sure that your free pattern selection is of equal or lesser value, 

but you guys are all so kind, I know this will not be a problem~

I HAVE THE BEST CUSTOMERS IN THE WORLD!!!

New Doll Pattern!

F~125 Lil' Honey!

Here she is! My newest pattern! I love the way this little girl came out so much I decided to put her into pattern form! She is 20" tall, with spun wool hair and all embroidered details. Instructions are very clear for the simple construction of this doll. The embroidered details are all included, with clear instructions on how to transfer the designs and stitches used. Here are some close-ups of the *cute* details:

F~125 Lil' Honey!

$8.00

Blog special!! 

If you email me with *blog* in the title you will get free shipping!

I accept Paypal

email me at:

anniebeezfolkart28@yahoo.com

Have you seen this?

Food Inc. 

This documentary confirmed everything I have suspected about our food supply and more. I have been getting into organic food for a couple of years now, mostly for health reasons. I have hypothyroidism, which I take medication for every day, and for the rest of my life. I have had this condition for many years, and it has really taken its toll. As I  get older, my energy is easily sapped. Diet plays a huge role in this. If I eat healthy-lots and lots of veggies, I actually feel almost good. If I eat badly, I feel awful. Sugar especially effects me, and I try to avoid it. High fructose corn syrup makes me actually achy and tired.

So...I have started gardening in earnest. 

I buy eggs from a local farm. 

I am using organic flour and whole wheat pasta. 

I have thrown out all processed foods. All.

This last winter I had my first free range turkey-it was unbelievable!

Now I am on a mission. 

It is probably a 10 year mission.

It is about self-sustainability.

I am planning a process of slowly living off the land, and becoming 3/4 vegetarian.

My hubby and I put in a 450 square foot garden this spring. I am growing carrots, turnips, onions-red and yellow,basil, lavender,flat leaf parsley, broccoli, kohlrabi, peppers-green and jalapeno, swiss chard, dill,tomatoes-heirloom,cherry, roma(for sauce), and beefsteak, cucumbers, zuchini,pumpkins and pole beans.

This is step one.

Next year we will install our beehive in hopes of having honey the following year.

Eventually, we will move to a house in the country where will will also have our own chickens. There is a no-chicken ordinance in this town or I would not wait.

So that is the plan. We have a lot to learn but our quality of life depends on it. My kids are growing up and out, and we now know what we want to do as we move towards retirement(still many years away). We will end up living a homesteading type of self-sufficient lifestyle out where the wind blows through the trees and you can hear a car come up the road from a long way off.

:~)

Love Your Enemies for sale on Ebay!

Unfortunately the sale for this piece on TDIPT fell through, so I am offering it on Ebay with free shipping!

Click here to go to ebay!

Free chart!

Quaker Primitive
Click on image to print!
Suggestions for stitching:
30ct. Colonial Pumpkin linen from R & R.
2 strands of Hickory Sticks from Crescent Colours.
1 strand of Hickory Sticks for the over 1 portions.

Thank you for reading my blog!!

Edited to add:
This design cannot be stitched on aida cloth. Due to the over 1 portions you need either linen or evenweave.

For a great explanation of stitching over 1 go here!

Happy Easter Monday!

I see I have not posted since last Wednesday, since the start of the Easter Triduum. What a glorious Holy Week I had! I am an Easter zealot, that's for sure! I did not miss a single mass or service this year, which is a lot of church time. We brought 20 new converts into the church on Saturday night, it was glorious!
And now, fired up and filled with the Holy Spirit I am renewed and ready to get to work! I still have my kiddos home today, but they will be back in school tomorrow and the Online Needlework Show begins on Wednesday, so this will be a busy and happy week!

I did not get much time to stitch over the weekend, we were just too busy. But I did work a little bit on Houses. I have the models for my 2 newest designs completed(they will premier at the show on Wednesday)so I was able to work on Houses guilt-free! LOL! I do need to get started on new designs though, no rest for the weary!

I worked on my canvas work piece and got it almost all done until I ran out of the navy blue Neon Rays fiber. So I will have to pick up one of those to finish it.